Amsterdam Train Schedules - Train Stations in Amsterdam

Amsterdam train schedules - both within the Amsterdam area, nationally and internationally - are efficient and not expensive. All cities and most towns in the Netherlands are connected. This page is about domestic and local Amsterdam train services, including Amsterdam train stations. Click here for international train travel to/from Amsterdam.

Especially in the large area around Amsterdam, trains are often the fastest means of transport between cities as motorways are congested. Trains are also the cheapest, and usually fastest way to get from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the city and back - trains stop right below the airport's departure hall (see our Amsterdam airport transfers page). However, for getting around within Amsterdam, taking trams, buses and subways (or bikes!) is usually quicker.

All Amsterdam train connections are run by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and only a few lines in other parts of the Netherlands are run by other companies.

Amsterdam Train Stations

Amsterdam has 9 railway stations (see map), of which the Central Station ("Amsterdam Centraal") is the most important. While some international trains stop at other Amsterdam stations too, they all stop at Central Station. The city center, where all of Amsterdam's attractions and most hotels are located, is the orange part around the Central Station in the map below.

Domestic Train Schedules

The Netherlands have one of the busiest and most efficient railway networks in the world. Most connections in the Netherlands are served by at least 2 trains per hour, while some even have a train each 15 or 10 minutes during the daytime.

At the railway stations, the big yellow signs show train timetables. You can also call 0900-9292 or look them up on the internet at www.ns.nl. An even better site is www.9292ov.nl because it also has schedules of buses, trams and subways, additional to trains.

Buying Tickets For Domestic Trains

For train travel inside the Netherlands, you can buy tickets from the yellow-blue ticketing machine or, at the bigger railway stations, from the ticket office or the Kiosk or Wizzl shops that serve as such. Many smaller train stations only have ticketing machines these days. Buying tickets inside the train is no longer allowed: if caught without ticket, you will pay a 35 euro fine plus the ticket price.

Ticketing machines work with euro coins (no paper money) or any credit card or debit card that uses the Visa, Maestro or MasterCard system. Here's how to use their touch screens:

Press 'English'.

Choose your ticket: a return ticket (valid on the same day only) is 10-15% cheaper than two single tickets; children from 4 to 11 can use the Railrunner ticket for 2 euro, provided an adult comes along; children under 4 travel for free.

Choose the first and/or second letter of your destination, and press your destination as soon as you see it popping up.

Choose 1st or 2nd class; the difference in comfort is small but on busy moments you may not find a seat in the 2nd class.

Choose your fare: choose 'discount' only if you have a discount card and it's after 9am (on Sat & Sun, discount tickets are also allowed before 9am).

Choose whether the ticket is for today (with date) or without date; the latter can be saved for later but you must validate it in a yellow punch gadget at the platforms before getting onboard.

Choose how many tickets you want.

Then choose whether you want to pay, or select another ticket first.

Train Policies

All trains are non-smoking and smoking at railway stations is only allowed in a few designated smoking areas. If you mid- or long-distance train was delayed for 30 minutes or more, you can get 50% to 100% of your ticket price reimbursed. However, because of all the paperwork involved, most Dutch never do this.